About You:
Living Faith: Describe your vocation in life.
Msgr. Stephen Rossetti: I am a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Syracuse; I am a licensed psychologist and an active exorcist. I currently am a research associate professor in theology at the Catholic University of America.
LF: Do you reach out to readers online via a website or social media?
MSR: Our deliverance ministry has a website: CatholicExorcism.org, and you can find our social media links in Instagram, Tik Tok, X and more (msgrrossetti) via our website.
LF: Share a little about your ministry or daily work. (A day in the life looks like…?)
MSR: I teach, I write, and I do exorcisms and deliverance praying over people. I have a weekly blog which is found on our website: CatholicExorcism.org.
LF: How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
MSR: I have been writing for Living Faith for many years; I lost track of how many.
LF: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
MSR: The most difficult part to learn was to express yourself and your ideas in only 150 words. It’s harder to write succinctly.
LF: How many books have you written, and which is your favorite? If you haven’t written a book, name a favorite that you’ve enjoyed.
MSR: I have written over a dozen books. The latest two are still in print and doing well: Diary of an American Exorcist at Sophia Institute Press and When the Lion Roars at Spirit Daily Press.
LF: Where do you live today, and is that different from where you grew up?
MSR: I grew up in the Syracuse, N.Y., area and went to the Air Force Academy after high school and then spent six years in the AF before going to the seminary. I now live in the Washington, D.C. area. While in the AF, I learned how to parachute and have over 330 jumps.
LF: One additional thing you would want a Living Faith reader to know about you that we haven’t covered above. (A hobby, something silly or fun, an accomplishment, or an interesting fact?)
MSR: People might find it interesting to know that I spent two short stints on Antarctica as a chaplain. People often ask me: “What was it like?” My response: “Cold.” At the South Pole, the average summertime temperature is -20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the wintertime, it hovers around 60 to 70 degrees below.
About Faith:
LF: Describe a prayer practice that is meaningful to you.
MSR: I spent a short time as a Carthusian novice, and I treasure the spiritual formation I received, a real introduction to the value of silence and solitude, and thus contemplative prayer.
LF: What excites you about being a Catholic?
MSR: I love being a Catholic—it is a wonderful, wonderful grace. The Sacraments, the Church, the BVM, the saints and mystics, sacramentals, the priesthood and more.
About the Bible:
LF: If you could spend a day with a person mentioned in the Bible (besides Jesus), whom would you choose?
MSR: I would spend the day with the BVM.
About Living Faith:
LF: What is one thing you love about Living Faith?
MSR: Reading Living Faith daily reflections are a great way to begin the day. In recent days, I have been reminded of the importance of being recollected and living in the constant presence of the Lord.
*The interview was edited for clarity and conformity to style. No meaning was altered in the process.
